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For 7 years, children have been celebrating Healthy Al, Healthy Me Day! It’s a chance for teachers to highlight the work they do to help children learn about healthy foods and the importance of being active. This year brought lots of creative activities to classrooms across the country, in Canada, and Bermuda. Here’s a sampling of the fun!

At St. James’s Children’s Center in Richmond VA, the children heard Al’s Action Story and played Al Says (like Simon Says). They had a great time with the guessing game, What Animal Am I? The classrooms had taste tests and the children told their parents all about the new foods they tried. It was such a fun way to learn about healthy habits!

Act out the animal. Can you guess what I am?

In Hot Springs AR, at the Langston Magnet School, Carol Gibbs’ class read the Al’s Action Story and the children acted out all the moving parts. The kids loved it so much that they are now re-telling and acting out the story themselves. They rolled the Activity Cube and even taught some older kids, who came to read to the class, how to play. They used the Foot Pattern Hopscotch to hop around the room. Their day ended with the children drawing self-portraits with “empty” bellies, then having a nutritious snack from each food group. Afterward, they drew what they ate for snack to “fill their bellies” on the self-portraits.

The visitors joined the jumping jacks and dancing!

Kathi Rosbottom reported that the children at Highview Public School in Ontario, Canada love Al and had a great day! She used lots of activities from the AcornDreams website: the mazes, a tasting party, and the matching game. They made and decorated the hats, too! The children loved it all.

So many good tastes!

We worked hard on our hats!

The children in Janet Clemons’ class at Westview Early Childhood Center in Petersburg VA got their parents involved. They wanted to have some healthy snacks to eat so parents brought in bags of clementines, red apples, and pretzels. Ms. Clemons reports that they talk about healthy eating regularly, and they discuss the fruits and vegetables they like before lunch which encourages the children to eat them more often.

In Fort Wayne IN, at Lifeline Youth & Family Services, Bernice Bush’s morning and afternoon classes participated in the “fun and educational activities and as well as some music with Al!” The children talked about healthy food and practiced building the food pyramid. Snack time included pinwheel sandwiches (turkey and cream cheese wraps), grapes, apple slices, carrots, apple juice, and water.

At St. Andrews School in Richmond VA, the children in Madeline Hendrix’s class had a lively discussion about what healthy food they like and what they do to keep active. They like to eat strawberries, broccoli, carrots, and apples. To stay healthy, the kids love to run, ride bikes, and play basketball. They used the Activity Cube to “work out!” Jumping jacks, hopping on one foot, windmill arms, and running in place got their hearts beating, and there was lots of laughter, too!

So it was another great Healthy Al, Healthy Me Day! And remember that all the resources for these and other activities are always available here, including this new activity for 2019.

Snacking Is Part Of A Bigger Problem

Over one third of American children are overweight or obese. We’ve heard this for so long; the statement has almost lost its impact.

But really – one third?

Not only are overweight children more likely to feel bad about themselves, but they may well be on a path of on-going over-weight and diminished health.

Won’t Young Children “Outgrow” Being Overweight?

Some young children DO grow up and out of being overweight. But not all. Children who are overweight are more likely to be overweight adults. That means one third of our children are more likely to develop diabetes, liver and heart disease, asthma, cancer, sleep apnea, joint problems, and other health conditions.

What Causes Children To Be Overweight?

In addition to larger portion sizes, more processed and high calorie foods – changes in children’s snacking patterns contribute to the hefting of the nation’s children.

This is a short blog, so let’s look at one factor – the snacking – and what caring adults can do to protect children’s health. [ more… ]

The 6th Annual Healthy Al, Healthy Me Day was a great mix of moving, reading, experimenting, and learning! Early childhood programs around the country and in Bermuda danced, ran, tried new foods, read books, and played games.

In DeWitt Michigan, at Capital Area Community Services Head Start, Jessie Nevius sent this report: “Our kids enjoyed celebrating being healthy with Al! We read the story Al’s Healthy Choices and did Al’s Action Story. We used the book to have a discussion about healthy foods and healthy activities. We worked hard to complete Al’s healthy food maze.”

Healthy Choice Mazes

The students at Lyceum Preschool in Bermuda enjoyed an interactive read-aloud by Mrs. Shavana Wilson. After doing about twenty minutes of exercise, students were given a healthy snack of fresh fruit kabobs and peanut butter and jelly rice cakes. Mrs. Kimwana Eve also presented all the students with their own Al’s Pals t-shirts and water bottles.

Yummy fruit kabobs!

Debbie Miller’s class at Maymont School in Richmond Virginia read Al’s Healthy Choices and talked about their favorite healthy food and how they stay active. Then they had a tasting party with cauliflower, snap peas, mango, red pepper, cara cara orange, and starfruit. Most were a big hit, but the starfruit was not very popular! Everyone was adventurous and willing to try new foods.

We love the mango!

In Arkansas, at the North Little Rock School District, Whitney Addie’s class celebrated Healthy Al, Healthy Me all week and tried different fruits and vegetables. The overall favorite was strawberries. After talking about how they grew and what they looked and tasted like, the children did a still-life drawing. Each child was excited about trying so many different fruits and veggies.

Strawberry drawings from North Little Rock.

Angelette Pryor at Shady Grove Y in Richmond Virginia reports that Al was as popular as ever during the YMCA Healthy Kids Day. At the Al’s Pals station kids made Al hats. This station is a calm spot among the busy, noisy stations. Several kids came to the calm down spot which had big pillows on a small rug with the Calm Down and Problem-solving posters there. They had current Al’s Pals kids stop by as well as those who remembered Al from previous years.

Dancing at St. James CDCYoga at St. James CDC

The Grasshopper Class at St. James Child Development Center in Richmond Virginia did yoga poses and danced. The celebration fit right in with their focus for the month of April: exercise!

Ruby Allen’s STEPS Head Start class in Charlotte Courthouse Virginia joined the celebration by having the children choose their favorite fruits and decorating them. The teachers used the fruits from the dramatic play center to continue the discussion of their favorites. They all enjoyed the celebration and had such fun – they can’t wait until next year!

What will you put in your fruit salad?

At Michelle’s Playland in Suffolk Virginia, they started their day with a discussion on the importance of healthy habits and taking care of their bodies. They exercised and danced to “Shakin’ It” by Paragraph Express. They read Al’s Healthy Choices – a couple of times! Their healthy morning snack was apples, cheese and crackers, and water. They were talking about butterflies that week, so their physical activity was moving like butterflies. That afternoon, their outdoor activity was to run races.

Enjoying a snack that tastes good, and is good for you, too!Talking about making healthy choices.

So it was another great Healthy Al, Healthy Me Day! And remember that all the resources for these and other activities are always available here.

Teachers and children from around the country and in Bermuda went all out for the 5th annual Healthy Al, Healthy Me Day!

At Lowell Elementary School in Watertown MA, they had a wonderful celebration complete with fruit kabobs, hummus with carrots and cucumbers, dancing, and even selfies with Al. The children recorded their tasting preferences on this form. They added, “Can’t wait for next year!”

Filling out the Tasting Party chart.Dancing is good exercise. And FUN!

At the Child and Family Network Center in Alexandria VA, children made fruit kabobs, too, creating a pattern using strawberries, bananas, and blueberries. They talked about the importance of eating foods that keep their bodies healthy and strong!

Red, White, and Blueberry

Children at the Catholic Diocese of Evansville IN made Healthy Al hats, played Al Says, read the Al Story, played the rolling dice exercise game, colored on the sheet where they picked fruit for their salad, and completed the maze.

In Richmond VA at the Partnership for Families, we read Al’s Healthy Choices and did Al’s Action Story. It was great fun acting out all of Al’s movements like looking under the bed!

Is Al’s favorite book under the bed?Can you feel your heart beating?

Down at the Corrigan-Camden School District in Corrigan TX, the pre-K classes made a day of it! The Food Service Director presented a short program on healthy breakfast choices. Each child got a chef hat, a cup of yogurt, and blueberries, strawberries, dried cranberries, and graham crackers. Then they created their own healthy parfait. For their outdoor activities, each class planned a game including a ball relay race. Parents attended and participated in the events. Even their principal joined the fun and played games with the children.

Healthy Chefs in the Making!

In Wytheville VA, children celebrated by playing duck, duck, goose and having races. They had a healthy lunch of turkey and cheese roll ups, salad, and sliced apples. They talked about the importance of drinking water and enjoyed water that was flavored with fresh strawberries!

Meanwhile in Little Rock AR, there was a tasting party going on at Glenview Elementary School. They tried different fruits and vegetables and made a chart of which were their favorites. They also sent home parent notes about Less Screen Time, More Play Time and Healthy Eating. The students enjoyed dancing and exercising and talked about how this helps them to grow and be strong.

Are you looking for research-based, practical, and easy-to-use resources that promote healthy eating and physical activity in young children? We can help! Take a look at the games, fun activities, and healthy snack ideas here.

Growing strong kids can be hard these days. The right tools make any job easier. AcornDreams.com offers resources, support, and information for helping children grow up strong, healthy, and ready to flourish.

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